"A long time ago, Laugdeil was ruled by the ancient Nocturns," Petros said. "The Lake of Aktida was their main talisman, their source of power and of knowledge.

  "Today, we find traces they left behind—their books, shrines, the ruins of ancient cities—and we understand that they had access to technologies unknown to us, even though we live two thousand years later. How is that possible? The answer is simple: the ancient Nocturns could see the future. Just like our Kairu. But I assume Kairu can only see a few days, months, maybe a year ahead at most. The ancient Nocturns could see across millennia.

  "Then the colonizers arrived on the continent, the ancestors of the Alvens and the Kalds. They didn’t have the technologies of the Nocturns. They had only fire, swords, and a bit of magic. But they still won the war and drove the Nocturns into Rikutiam. How did they manage that?" Petros glanced around at the group. "That’s a complex question that historians have been struggling with for hundreds of years, ever since Laugdeil began studying history as a science. There have been many joint expeditions, excavations, searches for archives and documents written by the Nocturns themselves. Very few of those documents survived, time destroyed most of them. But historians did manage to learn a few things. From fragments of books, from inscriptions carved on ritual stone columns, on sarcophagus lids, on statue pedestals, a theory formed that became the foundation of scholarly consensus on this issue. And here’s that theory: the ancient Nocturns could have easily defeated the invaders. But they retreated and left the continent because they knew that in the long view of millennia, it would be better for their people—and for everyone in Laugdeil.

  "Scholars found no writings explaining their actions. But one of the most famous discoveries was the Nocturn Calendar. It dates back to around the 500s Before the New Era—so, about two thousand years ago. In that calendar were recorded—roughly, vaguely, but astonishingly accurately—all major historical events that occurred between the calendar’s creation and our time. All the great wars, with combatants and victors named. All the major power shifts on the continent, the changes of dynasties—no names, but eerily accurate within decades. And here’s the thing: the existing fragments of the calendar end around the time we’re living in now."

  "Maybe the rest just hasn’t been found yet," Remiz offered.

  "Exactly," Petros agreed. "We still hope to find more. It’s also possible the Nocturns simply didn’t have time to write more before they left the continent. But here’s the point: the last event recorded in the calendar is this—the Lake of Aktida will emerge into the light, and then another great war will begin in Laugdeil, leading to yet another change of power."

  "The Lake of Aktida will come to light…" murmured Kairu. "So, does that mean war is coming soon?"

  "Seems like it," Petros nodded. "But the calendar says nothing about who the war will be between, or who will win it."

  "Did Nubel know about this prophecy?" Viggo rumbled.

  "Of course."

  "Then why the hell did he organize that expedition? Did he want the war to start sooner?"

  "That’s a good question," Petros said thoughtfully. "I suspect someone convinced him otherwise. I think Nubel understood the risks, but he must have found some evidence that the prophecy was either false or flawed. That’s something we still have to figure out. Or… maybe he knew the war was inevitable, but believed that if he possessed the Lake of Aktida, he could protect himself."

  "But he was wrong," said Kairu. "So what does Saelin want then?"

  "Saelin wants to start the war," said Petros.

  Kairu looked around, wanting to make sure he wasn’t the only one completely confused. Viggo also sat with his jaw slack. Remiz’s expression, as always, was unreadable, and only Rita looked sad, but not surprised.

  "In the past few months, Saelin hasn’t been idle either. The Lake of Aktida is already supplying him with massive energy for production and experiments. And on May sixteenth of this year, in Saelin’s Castle, a secret ultimatum was delivered to King Emerlun of Aktida, King Jake of Vaimar, and the High Priest of the Nocturns, Raniot."

  Viggo blinked in surprise.

  "What kind of ultimatum?"

  "This is classified information," Petros warned. "Be aware—right now, no one knows this outside of the king, his closest council, the commandant, and the head of Royal Intelligence. Most likely, even when the war begins—and it’s unavoidable now—this will never leave the palace in Mainor. So: Saelin gave the kings an ultimatum. Either they voluntarily hand over their kingdoms to him, or he conquers Laugdeil with fire and sword."

  "So, he wants to fulfill the prophecy himself," said Kairu.

  "Exactly. Let’s say: since he knows war is inevitable, he’d rather be the driving force behind it, not just a cog in the machine. And he has a powerful trump card: the Lake of Aktida."

  "You’re saying he’s actually capable of conquering Laugdeil?" Viggo chuckled skeptically.

  "It’s entirely possible."

  Silence fell.

  "Absurd," Rita said firmly.

  "No," Petros shook his head. "You simply don’t understand the power of that diamond, and what it can do in the right hands. And Saelin is smart, very smart. He’s a genius scientist, and he knows everything about how magic interacts with matter. Remember the weapons I gave you for the expedition? Saelin invented them years ago. Those weapons fire bits of lead faster than the speed of sound, with the impact force of a massive boulder falling into the sea, but all that energy is focused into a single point. It pierces any armor from a great distance and kills instantly. Now imagine that, with the help of the Lake of Aktida, he sets up mass production of those weapons and arms a small unit of mercenaries. That squad could match the force of an entire army, wielding only swords and bows."

  "So, he wants to change the power in Laugdeil," Viggo said, scratching his head. "And then what?"

  "I can only guess," Petros said. "Knowing his style and personality, I imagine what he ultimately wants when he aims for the throne of Aktida, and then all of Laugdeil. The thing is… how do I put this gently… for some time now, Laugdeil’s ruling elite has been divided into two irreconcilable factions. Scientists and politicians—they have very different views on ultimate power. Politicians are conservative. They try every possible way to preserve the current order, to keep the people from questioning their place, to ensure everyone stays where they are, and doesn’t want to move up. They fear that brilliant inventors who change the world will become national heroes, form their own party, and take the reins of power."

  "But that’s not true, is it?" Rita shrugged.

  "Why not? There are many in the Academy of Sciences and the Mages' Guild who believe they know better how to rule Aktida. Scientists are liberal by nature; they advocate freedom of speech, free enterprise, and freedom of religion, which is why most of them have been branded heretics by the national church. I, for example, am a well-known heretic, excommunicated years ago. I’m not allowed in temples," Petros smirked. "Scientists operate through complex and sometimes ruthless means, using their influence on science as a whole. They push progress, while politicians ban their inventions, raise taxes, and systematically push the Academy and the Guild out of influence in the Cabinet. You see?"

  "And what does…" Kairu began.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "…this have to do with Saelin?" Petros finished. "Saelin and Mainor ended up on opposite sides. All of us, and him included, raised by the Mages' Guild, share a disdain for the ruling apparatus. And he, as far as I know, being a man of action, may be doing all this as revenge. Twenty-seven years ago, Saelin was forced to go into hiding in the forests of the Eastern Province. So, he might have started this war to get back at the Winver dynasty and the monarchy as a whole; or to feed his ego with the idea that he’s the master of the world; or to act without fear of the king’s wrath; or finally, to eliminate me without interference."

  "I see you two know each other well," Viggo remarked.

  "We go way back. Kairu and Rita already know. Then we had a terrible falling-out, so bad that Saelin swore to kill me. But as long as the state stands between us, he can’t just do it. And if he succeeds in seizing political power in Aktida… Politicians will follow him out of fear. Scientists will support him because he promises reforms. The common folk will have no choice but to submit. And then I won’t be able to hide, because all of Laugdeil will be against me."

  "Those who attacked the camp in spring… Were they sent by Saelin?" Kairu asked, suddenly recalling that night.

  "I don’t think so."

  "Who was it, then?"

  "I already mentioned to you that there is someone else in this story. This someone is hunting you, the Seer, but they are also trying to sabotage my work. Yuffilis had been attacked in Mainor.

  "Is he alright?" Rita gasped.

  "Yes, he got off easy. But he couldn't track down his attacker. Now he's in the capital, keeping his eyes open and trying to conduct his own investigation."

  "So why exactly do you need us?" Viggo asked.

  "I want you to take the Lake of Aktida away from Saelin," said Petros.

  Silence. Petros looked calmly at his little team, like a chess player awaiting his opponent’s move. The young people at the table exchanged glances. Viggo looked shocked, Remiz anxious, Rita—resigned.

  "How would we even do that?" Viggo finally broke the silence. "He must have his castle locked up tight… You just said he has new weapons."

  "You’ll find a way. I’ll help you. I couldn’t do it alone, but together, we can."

  "I’m more interested in why we should do it," Remiz said quietly. "The War of Aktida is the war of the Alvens. Viggo and I don’t have to be part of it. Kairu and Rita could hide in Vaimar or Rikutiam. If the prophecy says a new world is coming—we can’t stop it. So the best we can do is save our own lives."

  "That’s an excellent question, Remiz," Petros smiled. "And it brings us to the point. You truly don’t owe me anything. I’m asking you to help Kairu. If you prefer, think of it like this: I’m hiring you as Kairu’s personal protection team. I’ll give each of you promissory notes, allowing you to withdraw money from my personal accounts in any bank in Aktida, Vaimar, or Rikutiam. You don’t need to deny yourselves anything—so long as it serves the mission, and helps us reach the final goal…"

  "Why should I help you?" said Kairu irritably, turning to him. "All this time, you’ve practically kept me on a leash and didn’t let me go home!"

  "You’ll be able to go home very soon," Petros said wearily. "I promise. But you need to know that you have very good reasons to help me. I’ll repeat what I’ve already said: you’re connected to the Lake of Aktida and to the prophecy of the ancient Nocturns. There’s one more detail, known to even fewer people than the prophecy itself. The detail is this: when the Lake of Aktida comes to light, it can only be wielded by the Seer. Only then can the world recover after the war, and history move toward Elysium. In all other cases, this war will end in the defeat of humanity. Simply put, we’ll destroy ourselves. So long as the diamond remains in Saelin’s hands, we cannot stay on the sidelines. Otherwise, a few years from now, we’ll find ourselves alone in a wasteland. And most likely, if the Lake of Aktida doesn’t end up in Kairu’s hands, we’re all going to die."

  "There’s nothing about this in the history books, or in any scientific articles..." remarked Remiz.

  "I can’t answer that question just yet. But I know it with absolute certainty. If you like, I’m not completely sure that if Kairu gains possession of the diamond, the end of the world will be averted. But I am certain that the end will come if he doesn’t take it. That’s as true as the sun setting in the west today."

  Viggo snorted skeptically.

  "It's true," Kairu said suddenly. Everyone looked at him at once.

  "I had a dream," he said slowly, looking past the faces of his friends, out the window, where the sun was shining and the birds were singing. All of this suddenly ceased to seem real. An old memory flashed before his eyes so brightly that he felt sick. "A dream with a falling star. It destroyed an entire city. I saw it several times. The last one was the day when Yuffilis returned to the village and convinced me to go on an expedition."

  He forced himself back into reality and looked at Petros. The magician was looking at him, sadness and sympathy were visible in his eyes.

  "So... so it was a prophetic dream after all?"

  "Forgive me for being secretive," Petros sighed. "I promise, the time will come and I’ll tell you more. One reason I’m not sharing everything is that I myself still don’t know a lot. But I’ll find out soon. For now, I need your help to reach one place that, by all signs, is located near Nalvin. It’s very dangerous, because a massacre is about to begin there, but without Kairu, I won’t be able to manage."

  "How do you know there’s going to be a massacre soon?" asked Kairu.

  Petros pulled out a newspaper and tossed it on the table.

  "Here’s the news," he said, looking at Kairu. "Express mail from Mainor, and the report came to them from Nalvin. Read."

  Kairu picked up the newspaper. A chill ran down his spine.

  "Urgent news from the Southern Province. On the night of July 5th to 6th, the county of Surrell was subjected to a brutal and unexpected attack by a massive armada of pirate ships. Early eyewitness estimates place the number of ships in the armada at five hundred heavily armed vessels. The city’s active garrison, as well as most members of the Mages' Guild, were completely annihilated. Evacuated groups of residents sent toward Nalvin in the northwest did not reach any nearby settlements. The closest villages, Selmitte and Tarui, were also looted and burned. Only a group of fifty refugees managed to break through the encirclement and reach Nalvin through the forests.

  According to witnesses, the pirates used a type of weapon unknown to science with immense destructive power, which allowed them to decimate the city’s squadron and coastal forts. The reasons why such a large number of pirates, previously considered nearly eradicated, have regrouped and are moving inland remain unknown. Measures are being taken to strengthen the defenses of the most important cities in the Southern Province."

  "Was that your dream?" Petros asked quietly.

  Kairu nodded, stunned.

  "You think Saelin organized the pirates?" asked Rita softly.

  "Let’s think logically," suggested Petros. "In the wilds of the Eastern Province, Saelin wouldn’t be able to find a large enough army. Pirates are a logical choice. They’re strong, and there are many of them, but they’re disorganized. I think Saelin found something to offer them."

  "Money?"

  "No. I’m sure Saelin burned through his entire fortune on experiments. No, he can offer the pirates something greater—the chance to plunder the greatest cities of Aktida, which they’d never reach alone. You see, he’s united them into a single army? Pirates used to operate in small fleets, five or six ships, and even then, they sometimes managed to storm cities through sheer devilish bravery. And now, it seems all the pirates in the world have gathered to fulfill their side of the deal with Saelin. Their reward awaits in Nalvin, Mainor, and then..."

  "Hard to imagine," Rita nodded.

  "But the element of surprise is lost," Kairu noted. "If someone escaped and warned Nalvin..."

  "Yes, that part of Saelin’s plan failed. But I think he still has a few aces up his sleeve."

  "That’s not all the news," Viggo said grimly. "I was shocked when I was interrogated for several days while leaving Vaimar, and then again when entering Petista. You know what new law came out in Aktida at the end of May? All Nocturns, half-Nocturns, and all mixed-bloods are to be registered and closely monitored. All Kalds are also to be surveilled. The Vaimar embassy in Petista was outraged and crossed the border in full protest. Petista is now under military watch, and multiple population censuses have been conducted to identify all Kalds. Aktida is on edge, bristling with spears, basically saying—stay away from us..."

  "And how did they let you through?" asked Petros.

  "Incognito. With Rita’s friends... But I’m not coming back without a serious reason. To hell with it. A plague on both your houses."

  "Anything else?" Petros looked at Rita.

  "General mobilization," Rita sighed. "For now it’s half-hearted, like maybe it’ll blow over, but royal legionaries have already gone through towns, gathering men from sixteen to sixty. In Petista, the news of Surrell’s sacking is considered a tabloid hoax, so people gathered reluctantly. I don’t think the news has even reached Boreain and Asternia yet. I don’t know how fast the pirates are advancing, but I doubt they’ll gather even a thousand men to defend Nalvin by the end of summer."

  Rita fell silent. Petros emptied his pipe’s ash and looked around at them.

  "And now, my piece of news," he said. "From my personal spy. A letter arrived in Mainor. From the Eastern Province—specifically, from Saelin. Just a crumpled scrap of paper, with the words: ‘You’ve received the first proof of my power. Draw your conclusions. Nalvin is next.’"